MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE SENT OUT THIS WEEK, FOR THE UPCOMING RUN-OFF ELECTION (TO DECIDE WHO WILL FILL THE SEAT ABEL MALDONADO VACATED, WHEN HE WENT FROM BEING A LOCAL SENATOR….TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA). REPUBLICAN SAM BLAKESLEE, DEMOCRAT JOHN LAIRD, LIBERTARIAN MARK HINKLE, AND INDEPENDENT JIM FITZGERALD ARE ALL RUNNING FOR THE SEAT.
ALTHOUGH IN THE JUNE SPECIAL ELECTION 1 CANDIDATE NEEDED TO GET 50 PERCENT OF THE VOTE +1 TO WIN; IN THIS RUN-OFF ELECTION…. THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE MOST VOTES WILL WIN.
THE 15TH SENATORIAL DISTRICT IS COMPRISED OF PORTIONS OF SANTA CLARA, SANTA CRUZ, MONTEREY, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES.
ALTHOUGH SOME POLLING PLACES WILL BE OPEN AUGUST 17TH, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY VOTERS ARE ALSO WELCOME TO VOTE EARLY AT EITHER THE SANTA CRUZ OR WATSONVILLE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE. BOTH ARE OPEN MONDAYs THROUGH FRIDAYs FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M, (AND ON SATURDAY AUGUST 14TH FROM 9-5).